Body Fat

EmilyB85

Hi,
I recently incorporated exercise into my weekly routine. I’m currently working out approximately 4/5 times a week and have got my body fat down to 16.5%. I’m female, 26 and 5ft 9. The only problem is I'm not currently as thin as I would like to be. For example my stomach is hard to touch but there is still a pocket of fat sitting on top of that muscle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Stench Blossoms

How are you working out your body fat %?

marcus2000

Im not one of the fitness gurus who will give you a great technical response, but for me, I started doing something completely different. ive always gymmed alot - but the same thing all the time....i eventually joined a circuit training type of class (dedicated to abs), that incorporates all these core exercises that Id never looked at before.
(burpees/planks/lunges/duckwalks/sprints/vholds/mountain climbers/yoga tables) - I do these clases twice as week as a replacement for two normal gyms and it really changes your body shape!!!

EmilyB85

My PT has done it using calipers. 8 weeks ago I was 23%, 3 weeks ago I was 18%. I can see myself that my body is changing and Im certainly more toned. I just want to shift this weight from my stomach. Its literally just around my belly button area. My ribs are viable above.

EmilyB85

Thanks marcus2000, I am doing a similar circuit class once/twice a week. I also do a weights circuit once a week, spinning, and a class specific to abs. Maybe I should cut the carbs for a few weeks and see if that has any impact.

watermark

Hi OP, unfortunately spot training (i.e. losing body fat from only one area of the body) is a complete myth. Abs are made in the kitchen, so perhaps keep training as you have been but make some changes to your diet?

*doing abs/core exercises alone will not get rid of tummy fat.

Good luck!:)

Fizman

I find that whenever I want to lose BF / tone up in a short enough space of time, I tend to incorporate more lower body exercises into my routine. Your glute/thigh/hamstrings are huge muscles on your body, and when you work these, it tends to have a global effect on your build, not just local which middle and upper exercises tend to have.

Mr.Plough

EmilyB85 wrote: »

My PT has done it using calipers. 8 weeks ago I was 23%, 3 weeks ago I was 18%. I can see myself that my body is changing and Im certainly more toned. I just want to shift this weight from my stomach. Its literally just around my belly button area. My ribs are viable above.

Well if you shed 5% bf in 5 weeks, and a further 1.5% in 3 weeks, you are shedding the fat, so whats the question here? How low do you want your bf to go?

Scioch

EmilyB85 wrote: »

My PT has done it using calipers. 8 weeks ago I was 23%, 3 weeks ago I was 18%. I can see myself that my body is changing and Im certainly more toned. I just want to shift this weight from my stomach. Its literally just around my belly button area. My ribs are viable above.

Sounds like your making progress so whatever it is your doing is working. So keep doing what your doing.

dentaku

watermark wrote: »

Hi OP, unfortunately spot training (i.e. losing body fat from only one area of the body) is a complete myth. Abs are made in the kitchen

not exactly. if you're not getting enough sleep and/or you are stressed (from training or from work) cortisol can cause fat to build around your waistline. cut the stress and the fat will follow.

but yeah, you eat your way to abs and high protein/low carb diets are the way to go.
http://robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/